Switzerland's History

Switzerland is a small country situated in the heart of Central Europe
and shares a lot of it's history and of it's culture
(four national languages spoken in different regions) with it's
neighbours Germany, France, Italy and Austria.

When does the history of Switzerland begin? The answer depends on
the interpretation of the term Switzerland:

Archeology shows that Stone Age hunters
have been living in Switzerland already before the last Ice Age
(approximately 350'000 B.C.).

Switzerland's official latin name
"Confoederatio Helvetica"
goes back to a Celtic tribe called
the Helvetians.

The majority of Switzerland's "native"
population
settled during the Germanic Migration of Nations that set
an end to the Roman Empire in Western Europe at about 400 A.D.

The Old Swiss Confederacy
was founded in the first days of August, 1291
(hence Switzerland's national holiday is celebrated on
August, 1st).

Switzerland was officially accepted as an independent nation
by its neighbours in the 1648 European peace treaty.

There might be good reasons for any of these choices because
Switzerland has been changing a lot during the centuries of its
history and there is not really too much common ground between
the Helvetians or the medieval Old Swiss Confederacy
and the modern Swiss Civil Society.

Nevertheless this website starts with the first inhabitants we have
any accounts of, but it does focus on Switzerland's change into a
modern democratic society and on
Switzerland's Role in World War II.

Chronology / Overview

600000 - 30000 B.C.

Ice Age

Human Evolution in Africa. Central Europe more or
less covered by glaciers, some warmer intermediate periods allow
human activities, however.

30000 - 1800 B.C.

Stone Age

Hunters using weapons and tools made from stones in
Europe.

1800 - 800 B.C.

Bronze Age

Weapons and tools made from bronze.

800 - 58 B.C.

Iron Age

Helvetians

Weapons and tools made from iron. Celtic tribes all
over Western Europe.
The Helvetians, a celtic tribe,
give their name to the Swiss territory: hence HELVETIA
on Swiss coins and stamps, ch = Confoederatio Helvetica
on cars and internet domains.

58 B.C. - 400 A.D.

Roman Period

Helvetians stopped by roman commander
C. Julius Cesar when trying to move towards Southern France.
Switzerland occupied by roman troops, beginning of written history
in this region.

400 - 1500

Middle Ages

Germanic tribes set an end to the Roman Empire and
build new states and empires in Europe. Feudal system. Monasteries
keep up roman and greek heritage (reading and writing) and
develop new agricultural methods.

1291 - 1515

Old Swiss Confederacy

Three valleys in Central Switzerland unite against
the counts of Habsburg and fight for autonomy. Cities join the
confederacy. They conquer territories in northern and southern
Switzerland.

1523 - 1536

Reformation

Swiss Reformers Zwingli and Calvin even more radical
than Luther in Germany. Calvin's doctrine has influenced denominations
in many other countries.

1536 - 1798

Ancien Regime

Switzerland is a loose confederacy of 13 cities and
small valley communities dominating the rest of the country. A few
families control state affairs. Several rebellions put down by
military force: repressed aspects of history in a country so proud
of it's tradition of democracy.

1798 - 1802

Helvetic Republic

Revolution in Switzerland. Farmers in occupied
territories become free citizens. Centralistic parliamentary
republic according to French model. Occupation by French troops and
some battles of Napoleon vs. Austria and Russia in Switzerland.

1803 - 1815

Mediation

Civil war brings Helvetic Republic to an end. French
emperor Napoleon enforces a constitution negociated under his
"mediation"

Second French Revolution (1830) also boosts liberals in
Switzerland. Some federal states with liberal governments and
new constitutions. The conservative catholic governments of some
cantons [federal states] set up a secret Special Alliance
["Sonderbund"] against the liberal governments of other
cantons. This leads to a short civil war
["Sonderbundskrieg"] (1847).

1848

Federal State

New Federal Constitution combining elements of
the U.S. constitution (Federal State with central and cantonal
[state] governments and parliaments) and of French revolutionary
tradition. The Principles of this constitution are still valid today.

1800 - 1900

Industrialisation

Switzerland is one of the first industrialized
countries in Europe.

1914 - 1918

World War I.

Armed neutrality works when surrounded by warfaring
nations.

1918 - 1933

Economic Crisis

Twenties are not so "roaring" in Europe.
Inner conflicts, general strike in 1918, 1929 world
economic crisis hit this industrialized country severely.

1933 - 1939

Spiritual Defense

Hitler in Germany is soon seen as a danger to
Switzerland's independence. Thousands of German refugees (jews,
intellectuals) accepted. Socialists and trade unions seek cooperation
with liberal employers against fascist threat.